Rockwool plugs have a pH of roughly 7.8. This is pretty alkaline, yet our plants prefer to grow in a slightly more acidic environment (between 5.5 – 6.5). In order to prepare our Rockwell plugs for the seeds, we need to soak them in some pH adjusted water, that way they have everything the seeds need to germinate and sprout; water and a slightly acidic environment.

Hydrate And Stabilize The Rockwool plugs

1. Get a bowl or some other container that is big enough to fill with water and have room left for your Rockwool plugs.
2. Fill the container/bowl with water from your tap.
3. Using either a pH test kit or a pH meter, determine the pH of the water. Water comes out pretty alkaline, usually around 7.4, so you will need to acidify it a little bit to bring that pH down to the desired level. Aim for as close to a pH of 5.5-6 as you can get.
4. To accomplish this, use pH down. Add to the water in small increments (a drop), and test the water to see where the pH is. Continue doing this until you have a pH of 5.5-6.

Important: Do not let the pH of the water go below 5.  A pH this low will damage the fibers of the Rockwool plug

Now that we have the pH adjusted water, it’s time to stabilize and hydrate the Rockwool plug in it. Insert the Rockwool plugs into your container and let them soak for roughly 1 hour. Once the hour is up, the cubes will be big and fat with water.

DO NOT SQUEEZE THEM TO DRAIN ANY WATER

Rockwool plugs are designed to maintain the correct water to air ratio and squeezing them may damage their structure.

Dimensions: 3.5cm x 3.5cm x 4cm